Joao Pedro and Fernandez on target again in win over Fulham.
Chelsea earn first home win of the season after a 2-0 success over west London rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge
Enzo Fernandez and Joao Pedro each scored for the second match running as Chelsea battled to back-to-back Premier League wins with a 2-0 victory over Fulham at Stamford Bridge.
Joao Pedro followed up his goal in the 5-1 win over West Ham United last weekend with the opener on Saturday, heading home from Fernandez’s corner nine minutes into first-half stoppage time.
That lengthy additional period came after referee Rob Jones had overturned Josh King‘s breakaway goal following a VAR review for a Rodrigo Muniz foul on Trevoh Chalobah.
Another VAR review led to Jones awarding a penalty in the second half after Ryan Sessegnon had handled Chalobah’s cross. Fernandez, who also scored at West Ham, converted from the penalty spot.
A first home win of the season moved unbeaten Chelsea top of the table on seven points, while Fulham are 14th on two points, still seeking a first win of the 2025/26 season.
How the match unfolded
Joachim Andersen and Alex Iwobi shot wide early on, either side of Chelsea – who were again without Cole Palmer – losing Liam Delap to a hamstring injury.
King slammed past Robert Sanchez after being freed by Sander Berge on a 21st-minute counter, though Muniz’s tackle on Chalobah in the build-up was deemed a “careless challenge” by the referee.
Fulham did not heed the warning from former defender Tosin Adarabioyo, who headed over from point-blank range following a corner from Fernandez. The Argentinian landed another set-piece on the unmarked head of Joao Pedro to open the scoring.
Bernd Leno‘s trailing leg could not stop Fernandez’s 56th-minute penalty after Jones reviewed the footage and concluded Sessegnon made “his body unnaturally bigger” by extending his arms to block Chalobah’s delivery.
Joao Pedro then cleared off the line in the dying stages after Andersen’s header had deflected off Berge inside the six-yard area, with Chelsea’s clean sheet remaining intact in a hard-fought victory.
Palmer-less Chelsea unconvincing in victory
Chelsea hardly missed Palmer in their thrashing of West Ham last time out, but an unchanged line-up without him lacked fluidity after a promising opening.
Joao Pedro fired tamely at Leno, and Delap saw a fizzing effort blocked by Berge, though the hosts were far from convincing en route to snatching a first-half lead.
Delap’s disappointment was palpable after limping off in front of a Stamford Bridge crowd that included Alejandro Garnacho ahead of his reported transfer from Manchester United.
Enzo Maresca may then have felt fortunate to fall on the right side of a VAR review in either half, especially having also seen Chelsea benefit from another overturned opener from Eberechi Eze’s free-kick for Crystal Palace in their opening match.
Estevao and Reece James were both denied by Leno for a third goal, though Maresca may have just been pleased to see Chelsea grind out the win after a stuttering showing.
Despite victory, the Chelsea boss will still want improvements when they visit Brentford after the international break, during which Palmer should recover from injury.
Silva fumes as Fulham still wait for first win
Late goals against Brighton & Hove Albion and Man Utd snatched back-to-back draws, though Saturday’s disappointment saw Fulham’s unbeaten start halted.
Marco Silva again set-up with full-back Timothy Castagne in an unusual right-wing position, leaving out-and-out attackers Adama Traore, Harry Wilson and Emile Smith Rowe on the bench.
Silva’s tactical call appeared to be a defensive decision, but Castagne almost set up Andersen, who should have done better from inside the area when aiming for the top-left corner.
A fluid move almost brought 18-year-old King’s first Fulham goal, though Berge’s brilliance was undone by Muniz’s apparent clumsiness in standing on a foot of Chalobah.
That overturned strike followed by slack marking from Fulham for Joao Pedro’s header left Silva fuming on the touchline, either side of a last-ditch Moises Caicedo block denying Castagne a golden opportunity.
Silva’s fury in the dugout went up another notch after the penalty decision, while Fulham players seemingly claimed Joao Pedro had used his arm in the build-up to Sessegnon’s handball.
Silva’s annoyance will hardly have been helped by Fulham’s timid second-half performance, however, with his side needing to bounce back when they host Leeds United after the pause for international football.
Club reports
Chelsea report | Fulham report
What the managers said
Enzo Maresca: “First half, we were not patient on the ball. We were always looking for long solutions. In the second half, we were good on the ball and also the second balls. It’s the perfect time for the break. We need to recover our energy and then we go again.”
Marco Silva: “Overall performance wise we were outstanding first half, playing the game like it should be played. We should be proud. We were clearly the best team in the first half.”
Key facts
Chelsea remain unbeaten at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League in 2025 (P12 W9 D3), and are one of only three ever-present sides this calendar year to remain unbeaten at home in the competition during this period, alongside Liverpool and Aston Villa.
Joao Pedro has had a hand in seven goals across his five starts for Chelsea in all competitions (five goals, two assists), becoming the first player to net at least goals in his first five starts for the club since Tammy Abraham in 2019.
Since and including last season’s UEFA Conference League final, Fernandez has had a hand in nine goals in 11 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions (four goals, five assists).
Fulham become the sixth side in Premier League history to face a penalty in each of their first three games in a season, and were the first team to do so since Newcastle United in 2021/22.
(epl)
